The Deputy Minister of the Marginalised Communities, Royal /Ui/o/oo has urged the San people to embrace their culture and ensure that the younger generations learn and participate in cultural activities. 

The Deputy Minister made this remark at the just-ended first-ever San Annual Cultural Festival held at Gobabis in the Omaheke Region.

Deputy Minister Royal /Ui/o/oo says the San people have a rich cultural history as an indigenous group, stressing that they should preserve it for future generations.

The San Cultural Festival, he said, should replicate the concept: nothing for us, without us.

"The indigenous people of Africa, including the San people, or marginalised people, are scientists, reservationists, and healers. Their immense knowledge and relationships with nature, plants, and the environment are the sectors in which culture meets science. The celebration of heritage is therefore the celebration of African scientific processes and indigenous innovation systems, the devil claws, indigenous plants in Namibia, and the marginalised people."

The patron of the San cultural festival, Dr. Libertine Amathila, also highlighted how hard she worked to ensure that the San are where they are today with the assistance of the government.

"It took me three months to do that, as I said yesterday, and when I came up with this big report about Pohamba, I read the report. You take care of the people yourself now because you know about them. That is where I became a patron of the San people. Many years ago, now that I'm here to find out what's going on, I'm happy that the San people are now moving forward."

Traditional leader Chief Frederick Langman applauded the organising committee for the initiative, given the significance of cultural heritage. 

Various national and local leaders also witnessed the first-ever San Cultural Festival.